The Las Vegas Raiders (2-7) host the Dallas Cowboys (3-5-1) on Monday night. Here are five keys to the game:
Take advantage of Dallas’ defense:
The Cowboys have a solid offense, but are struggling because of a tough defense. Dallas has allowed 30 or more points in five of their games. That’s amazing and it’s an opportunity. But of course, Chip Kelly’s offense has had its own problems. The Raiders have scored 10 points or fewer in four games. In Week 9 in Denver, they went seven possessions (spanning more than 28 minutes) without earning a first down. The Raiders must find a way to put up points against this bad defense.
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Keep Williams in line:
Dallas’ beleaguered defense was bolstered at the trade deadline when they acquired star defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and linebacker Logan Wilson from the Bengals. Both will make their debut in Dallas on Monday night. Williams can be a game destroyer and will be extremely motivated to have a big game on Monday Night Football against a battered Raiders interior offensive line. This will be the key to the game.
Involve Bowers:
Against Denver, Raiders star tight end Brock Bowers had just one catch and it was for 31 yards. Kelly must give the ball to Bowers. The Raiders’ offense starts with Bowers. If he is taken out of the game, the Raiders’ receivers in the post-Jakobi Meyers offense simply won’t be feared enough to make a difference. Bowers is one of the few ways the Raiders can win. It has to be used.
There are no errors in special equipment:
The Raiders’ special teams have been a problem for much of the season. In Week 9, they had a punt blocked that set up the game-winning field goal and missed a makeable field goal with less than five minutes remaining. This team isn’t good enough for special teams to continue shooting themselves in the foot as they move on from fired special teams coach Tom McMahon.
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Give fans something to cheer about from the start:
Allegiant Stadium has become famous for being overrun by opposing fans over the past five seasons. This has the potential to be historic as the Cowboys visit the first team in the regular season. It could be quite blue inside. The Raiders must keep the interest of their own fan base by starting fast.